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(No Model.)

F. ERB, JI'.

FLYING TARGET.

No. 383,348. Patented May 22, 1888,.

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UNITED STATES PATENT erica.

FRED ERB, JR., OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN O. PERRIN,

OF SAME PLACE.

FLYING TARGET..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,348, dated May 22, 1888.

Application tiled August-10, i887'. Serial No. 246,604. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that l, FRED ERB, Jr., of Lafayette, in the county of Tippecanoe and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying Targets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure l isa top plan View of the flying target complete with the brace-stick applied. Fig. 2 is a cross vertical section of the same on line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is asimilar partial section of the same on line .e e, Fig. l, showing the surface of the target roughened.

This invention relates to improvements in fiying targets; and it has for its objects to produce a flying target that will be hollow, light, and friable, and which has its rounded top and bottom formed integral therewith and of the same material.

The further objects of the invention are to ll the hollow targets with feathers, paper cuttings, or other similar articles, which will be disseminated when the target' is broken and the better evidence the breaking the target by the marksman, and also to provide the target in some cases with a reenforcing strip, by which it can be thrown from the trap with less liability of breakage from the shock.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction of the target, as will be fully understood from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and particularly specified in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by letter, E designates the target, and e designates the annular iiange around the base of the same. This fiange strengthens the target and enables it to stand the shock or impact of ejectment from the trap. The hollow interior F of target E is preferably iilled with feathers or other suitable light material through the openingfin the top ofthe same, as shown. It' desired, this openingf may be closed by means ot' paper after the insertion of the feathers, or by sealing with a stick ofthe composition, or in other suitable manner.

It will be observed' that this target is made of a composition impervious to water, and when the holef is closed by suitable means the feathers in the targets will be kept per fectly dry, whether stored in dry places or not. This is a great advantage. I have shown the re enforce strip applied in all the figures; but thisisnotalwaysanessentialelement. ltsprojecting end d, as shown in Fig. 1, gives a iirmer hold to the target, and by extending across the same, as described, the liability of cruslr ing in the bottom of the target is lessened.

The annular flange e is formed integral with the body of the target, and while re-enforcing the target as described, it also affords a hold for the trap-finger to grasp the target preparatory to ejecting itrfrom the trap. By having these iianges ofsutficient width the targets can be readily and rapidly placed in the trap, as they then require no particular adjustment, as is the case where the hold or target-finger is formed atene portion only of the periphery of the trap.

The essential elements of my invention are having the top and bottom of the hollow target made ot' friable or brittle material, with an annular re-enforce flange of similar material, and providing an opening in said target for the insertion of feathers, the., for the pur pose described.

The opeuingfin the target maybe made in the bottom, it' desired, the top being entirely closed, the location of this opening not being essential.

It is obvious that without departing from the spirit of my invention various moditications may be made inthe manner of producing the target. For instance, the top and bottom parts of the target might be formed separately of brittle material and afterward cemented together, in which case the top and bottom would still be of fragile material.

The great advantage of having the target made of the friable material throughout is, that there is then scarcely any probability of the target not being broken ifstruck by a shot, whereas were the top or bottom of the target made of stiff material the shot might glance and the target be unbroken thereby.

ln some instances I propose roughening the IOC surface of the target, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or in other suitable manner by eorrugating or serrating it. Havingdeseribedmyinvention,whatIclaim isl. A flying target having a hollow rounded coneavo-convex top and a fiat bottom formed integral therewith, of brittle material,and havcaro convex rounded top and flat bottom formed integral therewith, of brittle material, and the re-enforee strip D in said bottom extending across the same and having projecting portion d, substantially as set forth.

4. The hereindescribed target, consisting of the concavo-oonvex shell or top and flat bottom formed integral therewith, and a re-enforcing strip, D, secured to said bottom and extending across the same, with a suitably-closed opening in said top for the insertion of feathers or other light articles into the target, all substantiall y as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I lclaim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of 35 two witnesses.

FRED ERB, JR.

Witnesses:

FRANK WV. CHASE, HIRAM W. CHASE. 

